"Translation services - service requirements" EN 15038 Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee CEN/BT/TF 138 "Translation Services" and approved by CEN on 13 April 2006. As of 2007 only five EU Member States (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Austria) have officially published this Standard in their National Standards Catalogues.

By the order N 5-A of 22 January 2008 of the Minister of Trade and Economic Development of the Republic of Armenia, the EN 15038 Standard was given the status of a National Standard - AST EN 15038-2007 "Translation services - service requirements".

The Standard establishes and defines the requirements for the provision of quality services by translation service providers. It is designed to provide translation service providers with a set of procedures and requirements to meet market needs.

A Standard is a document adopted by a competent authority, defining - for common or repeated use - rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or production processes and methods. A Standard may cover also requirements and norms pertaining to terminology, packaging, conventional signs, labeling and marking of products. Compliance with these norms and requirements is not compulsory; however it may serve as a quality assurance mechanism.

This Standard includes about 95 individual items, each stating a different requirement with respect to the procedures in translation services established by translation service providers, professional competences of involved specialists as well as documented procedures. Any genuine and targeted effort to comply with the Standard requirements may serve as a guarantee for ensuring greater organisational effectiveness and significant qualitative improvements.